GOP Tax Scheme Cannibalizes Their Own Local Schools

“A strong education system is vital to the economy. If Ohio is going to rebound from the current economic crisis, funding for education must be continued.’’

Few could argue with this sentiment – a sentiment prepared for the House Ways and Means Committee by three of Ohio’s top education experts: Jennifer Economus of the Ohio School Boards Association, Barbara Shaner from the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) and Tom Ash from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA).

The trio’s comments are included in prepared testimony in opposition to House Bill 400, Rep. John Adams’ plan to phase out Ohio’s income tax over 10 years.

It just happens to be identical to a plan ex-Congressman and Lehman Brothers’ exec John Kasich offered before thoughtful people from business, civic and education groups joined together to question the wisdom and sanity of Kasich’s gimmick.

The Associated Press recently reported that a legislative analysis determined that the plan would cost state and local governments and libraries more than $800 million next year. $800 million!

A new analysis, also by the Legislative Service Commission, projects how the Kasich plan would affect Ohio’s school districts. And folks, it ain't pretty. What's most fascinating is what the Kasich scheme does to his GOP allies.

Who says only polar bears and spiders eat their young?

The analysis is not available electronically but let’s look at how it would affect the districts where Kasich, running mate Mary Taylor and other GOP stalwarts live.

The list below shows the amount individual districts receive today. Row 1 shows the loss in state aid in the first year. Row 2 shows the loss in state and federal aid. Row 3 shows the loss in state aid once the income tax is fully phased out.

Sidney City SD (John Adams’ home)
Est. state aid FY11 : $15,599,931
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $15,107,690
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $14,010,285
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $10,677,529

Medina (Bill Batchelder’s home)
Est. state aid FY11 : $16,517,358
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $15,996,170
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $14,834,226
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $11,305,472

Westerville (John Kasich’s home)
Est. state aid FY11 : $32,005,355
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $30,995,458
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $28,743,984
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $21,906,386

Green (Mary Taylor’s home)
Est. state aid FY11 : $10,603,557
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $10,266,972
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $9,523,046
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $7,257,711

S. Euclid-Lyndhurst (Josh Mandel’s home)
Est. state aid FY11 : $6,793,206
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $6,578,853
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $8,848,321
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $6,743,489

Ashland (Bill Harris’ home)
Est. state aid FY11 : $10,486,634
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $10,155,739
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $9,418,038
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $7,177,682

Kettering (Jon Husted’s "home")
Est. state aid FY11 : $12,067,195
No. 1 (3.2% cut) : $11,686,427
No. 2 (10.2% cut) : $10,837,538
No. 3 (full phase in; 31.6% cut) : $8,259,513

I can't wait to hear Jon Husted telling angry parents at the Kettering School Board meetings that "hey, it's only FOUR MILLION dollars. Shit, you should see what we did to Kasich's neighborhood. (snickering)"